Ammerlaan Wins Wheelchair Tennis Test Event

The Netherlands’ Robin Ammerlaan, a Beijing 2008 silver medallists, could not have been happier with his results at Eton Manor in London. 07 May 2012
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A picture of a man in a wheelchair playing tennis.

Robin Ammerlaan plays a backhand in his Wheelchair Singles Quarterfinals match against Nicolas Peifer during day ten of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park.

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By IPC

"I just had to stay calm and play my game and he put some double faults in at key times on break points, which helped me.”

Robin Ammerlaan of the Netherlands clinched the men’s singles title on the final day of the Eton Manor Wheelchair Tennis International, a part of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour and the London Prepares series , after defeating Great Britain’s David Philliipson, 6-2, 6-2.

Phillipson kept pace with the world No. 7 and top seed in the early part of the match and led 2-1 at the first change of ends, but Ammerlaan took the next five games to claim the first set at the London 2012 test event.

Ammerlaan built a commanding 5-1 second-set lead and was 2 points away from taking the match until Phillipson kept himself in it.

However, Ammerlaan kept his composure while Phillipson served a double fault at match point down to hand the Dutchman the victory.

Ammerlaan was the the men’s singles gold medallist at the Athens 2004 Games and the silver medallist at the Beijing 2008 Games.

“Dave’s backhand slice was working well for him early in the first set and if he could keep that up it would have been a closer match, but I know he can be inconsistent sometimes and probably wouldn’t keep it up,” Ammerlaan told the International Tennis Federation (ITF) following the match.

“So, I just had to stay calm and play my game and he put some double faults in at key times on break points, which helped me.”

The tournament gave the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) the chance to test its operations including the athlete and wheelchair movements around the venue, the results and scoring systems, media operations and workforce.

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